Botanical Name: Polystichum acrostichoides
Description:The Christmas fern grows to about 18 inches tall and wide with all ofthe fronds emerging from a central crown.  As the plant ages, itproduces more fronds, but the usual number is about 20 on the typicalplant.  Given good growing conditions, plants produce many more frondsthan you'll see in the wild.  The base of the frond and the centralcrown is covered with brown, scruffy scales.  The fronds are pinnatelycompound, meaning there is a central axis with the individual leaflets(pinnae in fern lingo), produced at right angles down its length.  Thepinnae are 2 inches long, but get proportionally smaller as you movedown the midrib.  Typical pinnae have a thumb-like lobe at the top,giving it a mitten-like appearance.
Growing tips: Ferns prefer shade with indirect sunlight and high humidity. Moist, well-drained soil.
Height: 18 inches